Deputy Chief Fire Officer Keith Carruthers (second left) and Chief Fire Officer Steve Helps (third from left) with the Senior Leadership Team.
A three-year plan that focuses on how County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service (CDDFRS) plan to keep communities safe has now been published.
Following months of public consultation, the Service’s Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) was given the greenlight on Friday (June 20) by members of the Combined Fire Authority.
Covering everything from how the Service prevents fires to how it responds to emergency calls, the document looks at all the risks that communities face and how they can be tackled.
Chief Fire Officer Steve Helps said: “This was the highest number of respondents that we’ve had in recent times. I want to thank every member of the public who took the time to share their valuable input.
“As well as responding online, you were able to talk to our crews and staff as they took to the streets, hosted open days, coffee mornings and car washes to ensure that your voices were heard.
“It was a pleasure to have so many of you engage with us in-person and share your thoughts and feedback.”
He added: “The CRMP is our most important document – it allows us to consider and meet the changing risks in our communities and ensure your safety and that of all our hardworking staff and crews.
“This year’s refreshed CRMP focuses on our plans to make key investments - both from a financial and time perspective - in how we work with our communities, support our people, develop our on-call resources and plan for our future.
“We consulted on five core areas and 99 per cent of everyone consulted agreed with how we’re prioritising our areas of investment, which was heartening to see.
“We can now start putting the plan into action, shaping our Service for the next three years.”
Chair of the Combined Fire Authority, Councillor Paul Sexton, added: “Thank you to everyone who made the effort to have their say on the CRMP.
“A lot of work goes into shaping the plan and it is an excellent document that helps us steer CDDFRS into the future and I look forward to seeing the plan come to fruition.”
